Koen Mortelmans

I started writing for newspapers and magazines while still studying for my master’s degree in history, and documentation and library sciences, and for my bachelor’s degree in philosophy. In my twenties, I did some teaching and also spent some time doing historical research, mainly about the Ancien Régime period.

I have also written several books about the history of sports and leisure. I'm also an avid distance runner and cyclist. I write in Dutch and in English. I also speak French and some German.

By 2030, 32% of the energy consumed in the EU must be generated from renewable sources, such as water, wind and sun. To achieve this, it doesn’t suffice to increase the number of wind turbines and solar cells. Extended and adapted transport and distribution grids are also necessary.

One of the main problems with the transition from fossil fuels to renewable electricity is the unreliability of the supply. However, this can be tackled by pioneering technologies for storing energy and upgrading grids

The organic pollution decomposing properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2) have been known for about half a century. However, practical applications have been few and hard to develop, but now a Greek paint producer claims to have found a solution

While large scale wind turbines gather momentum, the installation of smaller ones in Europe is progressing very slowly. One of the major problems is the lack of certified machines. Turbine producers are put off by the high costs of the certification procedures